General Information About Protecting Your Family and Property From Floods

Flood information is provided as a public service to promote awareness of flood hazards in our Town. The Town of Ocean Ridge has been verified as a Class 7 in the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS). NFIP policies issued or renewed for properties in the Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) will receive a 15% premium discount.

Many people do not realize that homeowner's insurance does not cover losses due to flooding. Informing yourself about flood protection is very important for protecting your family, possessions, and home. The following information and links are provided to assist you in increasing your awareness about flood protection. Additionally, the County Library System provides flood protection information, and maintains copies on the flood insurance rate maps for the entire county along with explanations on their use to determine flood zones and elevations.

If you have additional questions, please call Town Hall at 561-732-2635 or email the Building Clerk.

THE LOCAL FLOOD HAZARD

Property within the Town of Ocean Ridge is located in several different flood zones. You may contact Town Hall to find out what flood zone your property is located in.

THE FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM

Copies of the Palm Beach County's Flood Warning Program are available at your nearest county library. When the National Weather Service can forecast intense rainfall in a timely manner, our drainage system can be lowered in an attempt to receive the extraordinary volume of water expected. During periods of prolonged rainfall, areas of the county are kept under surveillance and reported to the Emergency Operating Center. When advised of problem areas, response actions will be taken. When you detect street flooding in you own area, tune to a television or radio station known by you to have an active news bureau. You will be advised of measures you should take to protect your property and yourself.

FLOOD SAFETY

Be aware of what steps to take to minimize your losses due to flooding. The local television and radio stations will warn you when it is necessary to secure your property and evacuate. Live electrical lines cause most hazards. If it appears that floodwaters will enter your home, turn off all electric and gas service. If you find that water has entered your home, do not touch electrical switches or appliances to either turn them on or off. Outside, avoid any pools of water in which a downed power line is laying. You must assume that all downed power lines are energized.

FLOOD INSURANCE

Homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover losses due to flooding. The Town of Ocean Ridge participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, which makes flood insurance available to everyone in the Town. For most, a home and its contents are their greatest investment. If your property is even suspect to the possibility of flood damage, from hurricanes or otherwise, you should be protected with an NFIP Flood Policy. Contact your insurance agent and have him or her discuss the types of coverage available to you.

Copies of FEMA Elevation Certificates on buildings constructed in the floodplain since 2001 are available at the Building Department, Town Hall 6450 N. Ocean Blvd., Ocean Ridge, FL 33435

PROPERTY PROTECTION MEASURESWhen it appears that your neighborhood is becoming seriously inundated, there are simple things you can do to protect your property. The following are suggestions to minimize damage to your residence:

Store materials like sandbags, tarps, lumber to protect your home and make quick repairs after a severe storm.

Sandbag building entrances before a storm or notice of flooding to protect water from entering your residence.

Moving your motor vehicles to higher ground.

Secure your home before evacuating. Bring garbage cans, outdoor furniture, garden equipment inside or tie them down. Many of the things you own are not only valuable but are considered by you to be irreplaceable. These items should be elevated above the floor level to protect them from flood damage.

Board up windows or protect them with storm shutters.

PERMITS

The Town of Ocean Ridge Building Department requires permits for all construction. This includes new construction, repair/replacement work, additions, signs, and fences, fill, tree removal, etc. The Town of Ocean Ridge has adopted the Florida Building Code. Parts of this code regulate the amounts and types of construction in the floodplain. You must always consult with the Building Official when planning any kind of construction. When others violate our floodplain laws, it could affect your property. The Building Official should be made aware of such activities.

DRAINAGE SYSTEM MAINTENANCE

A community can lose apportion of its drainage system carrying or storage capacity due to dumping debris, soil erosion and sedimentation and overgrowth of vegetation. When this happens flooding occurs most frequently and reaches higher elevation, subjecting properties otherwise protected to unnecessary risk or damage. Keep grass clippings and other debris out of stormwater drainage to prevent clogging and loss of stormwater storage. If you experience any localized drainage problems or illegal floodplain development, please call the Building Department at 561-732-2635.